Vibrant Congregations Project

News about the health of mainline denominations seems bleak. Attendance is down, the average age of worshippers is up and money is in short supply.

This does not accurately reflect the whole story, though. There are numerous signs that genuine renewal and transformation has begun. For many churches around the United States, being a vibrant congregation is a reality, not an ideal.

Luther Seminary has received a generous grant from the Lilly Foundation to partner with some such congregations in order to study and understand how they became vibrant in the first place. In 2011-2012, the partner congregations will complete projects that help them get at the root of their vibrancy. They will also reflect on their process along the way.

Why should you care? We are in this together. Luther Seminary hopes to walk alongside vibrant and thriving congregations, learning from one another, sharing resources and together imagining new possibilities.

Six Focus AReas

The Vibrant Congregations Project identifies six critical dimensions that make up vibrant congregational life and culture.